Coin assorting and counting machine.



P.E. REES. COIN ASSORTING AND COUNTING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED MAB. 18,1909.

Patented Nov. 15, 1910.

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P. E. REES.

COIN ASSORTING AND COUNTING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED HAB.18,1909.

P. E. REES. COIN ASSORTINGAND GOUNTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 1.5.3.18, 1909.

Patented N0v.15, 1910:

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a Na ATTEST:

P. H. RES, GOIN ASSORTING AND COUNTING MACHINE.

' APPLICATION FILED MAR. 18,1909.

975,458. Patented Nov. 15, 1910.

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m it/Mam A T r vs.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PERLEY E. REES, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR TO JAMES B. STEELE, OF

2 KANSAS CITY. MISSOURI.

COIN ASSORTING AND COUNTING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Nov. 15, 1910.

Application filed March 18, 1909. Serial No. 484.210.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it-known that I, lsnnnr E. Runs, citi- Q zen of the United States, residing at. Kansas Cit. Missouri haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Coin .-\sso1.'ting and Counting llla'chines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to coinassorting and counting mechanism, and it consists in the features and combination and arrangement the line, 3-3 of Fig. 1 with parts omitted;

Fio'. 1 is a plan view of the apparatus; Fig. 5 IS a detail view of a detent for controlling the coins; Fig. 6 is a plan view of a portion of the lower part of the apparatus, parts being in section; Fig. 7 is a bottom plan view of one of the cap plates of the counting mechanism; Fig. 7 is a portion of a coin impelling wheel enlarged and in plan view; Fig. 8 is a detail sectional view through one of the counting mechanisms substantially on the line 8S of Fig. 6; looking from the left of said line; Fig. 9 is tl-SeCtlOnlLl view through the cap cover plate of one of the counting mechanisms substantially on the line 9-9 of F ig. 6, the impelling disk or wheel being omitted; looking from the left of said line; Fig, 10 is a view similar to Fig; 9 with the com lmpelhng device in lace' Fi 11 is a view similar to I Fig. 10 showing a different form of the im pelling disk or device; Fig. 1.2 is a detail view of one of the coin directing tubes; Fig. 13 is a bottom plan view of Fig. 12; Fig. 1 1 is an end elevation of the apparatus with the hopper broken away and partly in section, and oneof the distributing plates, with its tray, and a part of one of the coin chutes, shown in section, this sectioned portion being viewed in the'plane of inclination of the com chute for convenience of illustration instead of in perspective, as it would naturally a pear in this View; Fig. is a sectional new of the coin chutes or assorting device substantially on the line 15 of Fig. 4.

The apparatus comprises a hopper 1 having downwardly converging sides 2 connected, at their lower ends, with a bottom 8 I made up of two inclined portions inclining downwardly and laterally from a center line 4, so as to discharge the coins from their lateral edges 5 onto the distributer plates or disks 6. The coins are directed .to the laterally inclined portions of the bottom 3 by l shields or deflecting plates 7 extending from i the upper lateral edges of the hopper inl wardly and downwardly to cover the open sides 8 of the hopper, and to cause the coins to be directed to the laterally inclined portions of the bottom 3 and thence, through the said openings 8, onto the distributing plates 6. These distributing plates are arranged on opposite sides of the central plane of the apparatus, and they are at an inclination to each other, and each one is carried by a shaft Q'bearing in frame brackets 10 secured to the supporting frame; Each shaft 9 has a beveled gear 11 thereon meshing with a beveled gear 12 on a drive shaft 13 having its bearings in the frame, and having thereon a beveled gear 14 enga ed by a pinion 15 on a vertical shaft 16 WlllCh, at its lower end, hasa gear 17 engaged by a Worm 18 on a shaft 19 journaled in suitable bearings on the frame and having thereon a belt pulley 20 driven by a belt 21 from a pulley 22 on the shaft 23 of a motor indicated enerally at 25, said motor being of any desirable form, the one represented being an electric motor,

frame 26 of the apparatus. By these connections the distributing plates or disks 6 are rotated, and each disk is provided with arms 27 extending radially of the disk and lying directly upon the face thereof, the outer ends of the said arms having enlarged or widened portions 28 presenting edges 29 extending at an angle to the edges of the radial arm portions 27. On certain of the wider portions of the arms 27 I provide projections 30 extending upwardly from the arms to serve as stirre-rs or agitators for the coins.

The distributer plates or disks .6 rotate within rims or trays 31 supported on the frame brackets 10, the rims of the said trays extending upwardly some distance, as shown in Fig. 14, above the upper surfaces of the distributer plates. The coins, as-they leave the laterally and downwardly inclined portions of the hopper bottom 3, at the edges 5 thereof, fall upon the distributer plates at those portions thereof lying betwwn the rim and this being mounted on the main base rim. or flange of the tray at 34, the said partition plate or shield 32 lying with its lower edge just above the plane of movement of the arms 27 of the distributers. The distributers rotate in the direction of the arrows, and the arms 27, passing under the lower edge of the partition or shield 32, engage the coins anu carry them upwardly in the direction of the arrow, Fi 4, and around beneath the supporting ar 33 so as to drop them into the coin chutes, 35, one of which is shown in section in Fig. .14, and both of which are indicated in Fig. 15. These coin chutes are inclined latera ly, the degree of inclination conformin to the degree of inelination of the distributer plates, so that the coins leaving the distributer plates from between the arms 27 will simply fall into the chutes 35, maintaining their same inclination, and as these chutes incline from the ht hand end of the machine, as shown in F1 1, downwardly toward the left hand en the coins will pass by gravity down along these chutes to be assorted. The partition plates or shields 32 are provided each with an openin at 36 to permit the passage therethrough o the distributer lugs or projections 30.

In order to prevent the coins from passing below the partition plates 32, and directly to the coin chute, I rovide a stop at the lower part of the dlstributer plates, said stops being supported ona portion of the fixed frame, and preferably on the cross bar 33, and, while-these stops may be of various forms, I prefer to employ pivoted stops or pawls, such as shown at 37, which are pivoted'at 38 to lugs or cars extending from the cross bar 33. The pivoting of these stops will permit the 'distributer plates to rotate, carrymg their arms 27' beneath the stop, which will ride over the said arms and fall into the s aces between the same and onto the face 0 the distributer disks 6 which are exposed between the arms and, in this way, any coin tending to pass directly from the converging receiving space at :0 between the shield 32 and the rim 31, will be arrested and will be maintained in position to be engaged by the oncoming arm 27, which 'will carry it upwardly. and around beneath the elevated cross bar 33 to be discharged thence into the upper part of the coin chute. The upwardly flaring space between the part1- tion 32 and the rim 31 provides a hopper section for receiving the coins from the main hop r. The coin chute, at its upper part, as s own in Fig. 14, presents a wide receiving space or slot for the coins, but the width of this is gradually reduced toward the point y, Fig. 4, where the coin chute resents a groove or slot for the coin of su stantially the width shown in Fig. 15. The upper plate 40 of the coin chute is also widened laterally, as at 41, Fi 4, to conform closely to the edge of the dlstributer disk for receiving the coins. These upper plates or guards of the coin chutes are reduced in width at the point 31 and they are attached to bars 42 forming bottoms of the chutes upon which the edges of the coins roll. The chutes also comprise each a plate 43 inclinmg laterally, and also" inclining from end to end of the apparatus, and these plates afford the supports for the side faces of the inclined coins to hold them in position as they are passing downwardly for asso'rtment. These supporting plates are provided each with a series of openings 44 of different widths, as shown in Fig. 4, for the purpose of assorting the coins, the smaller coins passing through the first opening 44, the next l'arger coins passing through the next opening, and so on, the largest coin passing from the end of the chute through the largest tube 46 at the left of Fig. 4, and,

in this way, the coins of different denominations are separated from each other. Each of the openings 4-4 has below it a receiving hopper 45 to conduct the assorted coins through a tube 46 to a receptacle 47, there being one receptacle for each size of coin. On their way to the said receptacle, the coins are counted, and for this purpose I have provided a counting mechanism for each denomination. These counting mechanisms each comprise an impelling device for the coins, consisting preferably of a disk 48 having a recess on its under side to receive a pin or journal 49 projecting up from the face of the main base plate 26. The disk is simply slipped over this journal pin to rotate thereon, and it is provided with a gear wheel 50 of somewhat greater diameter than that of the disk, and I prefer to communicate the power from the impelling wheel or disk of one counting device to that of the other by simply causing these gears of the respective counting mechanisms to mesh with each other, as shown in Figs. 4 and 6. The ower is communicated to the gear of the first counting mechanism by a gear wheel 51 on a shaft 52 journaled in a bracket 53, in which is also journaled a shaft 54 having a worm 55 thereon meshing with a gear 56 on the shaft 52. The shaft 54 is rotated from the electric or other motor through a belt 57 and pulleys 58, 59.

The impelling device or disk is combined with a casing or cover plate 60 having its side arranged close to the edge of the gear wheel 50 with a flange 61 directly adjacent the edge of the said gear wheel, and forming, with its ledge, a continuation of the upper surface of the said gear wheel. The coins passing down through the tube 46 fall through an opening 61 in the cover plate or casing 60, directly upon the upper sur- 7 tending flange portion formed by the greater diameter of the gear wheel 50.

face of the impelling disk is roughened or knurled so that the coin will be forcibly impelled by the rotary movement of this disk from the tube 46 into a position to fall upon the upper face of the gear wheel 50, the

'cdins. in this action, being guided by the overhanging portion of the casing or cover plate 60. The knurling of the upper face of the impelling device is formed by circular grooves crossed by tangential grooves,

this providing a roughening on tangential lines, so that the tendency. is to cause the coin to be pushed toward the edge of the" impelling disk and onto the uppersurface of the gear wheel 50. Here the coin is engaged by impelling lugs'or arms 62 exteml.-'

- pelling disk in a direction tangential thereto, so as to present rearwardly inclined bearing surfaces to engage the coin, the effect. of

which is to push the coins outwardly in respect tothe center of rotation, and prevent them from being locked against the impelling lugs and the side of the impelling disk. The opening 61 extends, for a considerable distance, over the surface of the gear Wheel 50, and the purpose of this is to provide a free space to allow the coins to settle and arrange themselves for passing under the bridge portion (1 and into the confined space sage of this coin upon the counting mecha-- beneath the cover late and adjacent the counting pin (33, this confining space being indicated at 64 in Figs. 9 and 10, which indicates that the under face of thecover plate conforms closely to the shape of the upper face of the impelling disk and the projecting impelling lugs. The coins are therefore forced bythe impelling lugs against the counting pin 63 which projects down through a slot 64 in the cover plate, being carried by an arm 6!) pivoted at 66 to the cover plate and bearing normally against the stop 67. The arm has also connected therewith an arn1'68 connected by a link 69 with a count-- ing or registering mechanism indicated generally at 70, and which may be of any suitable form. The arms are under tension of a spring 71 tending to hold the counting pin 63 in the path of movement of the coin as impelledbythe impellin forced outwardly alongt 0 slot 64 by pressure of the coin, the connection. above described will be operated to register the pasnism, and, in this way, the number of coins The upper the arrow in Fig. l.

space.

device, and when cover plate at 74, so that, as the coin is brought around with its outer edge resting upon the ledge 64, it will first operate the counting pin and then pass on ,until its edge strikes the depending portion 73, and this depending edge will deflect the coin outwardly from the impelling device into the recess 72, from which it will drop through the opening 71 into its receptacle 47. The direction of movement of the impelling device in respect to the recess is indicated by In order to prevent the locking of coins between the lower face of the tube 46 and the upper face of the impelling device for the counter, I provide a lug 74 on the foot of the tube 46 to extend down into the opening 61, so as to provide only enough space between the lower face of the lug and the upper face 'of the counting disk for the passage of one coin.

In Figs. 8, 9 and 10 I show the arrangement adapted for use with a. counting or impelling wheel having a fiat upper face, while in Fig. 11 I show a counting wheel with a cone-shaped upper face and with the adjacent parts conforming thereto. This is for the purpose of facilitating the discharge of the coins from the upper knurled face of the i'inpelling device or counter onto the gear wheel. 1

It willbe observed that the-projections 62 are provided with downwardly inclined upper edges. As shown in Fig. 11, I make these inclines steep at their outer ends, so as to facilitate the dropping of the coins therecated on the opposite side of the axial line of the machine from that of the first counter.

The counters are preferably disalined, as shown in. Fig. 4, for the purpose of saving The largest sized coin as before stated will pass from the end of the assorting chute into the largest sized tube 46. I prefer to employ in the hopper a partition indicated in dotted lines at 75, so that, for counting coins which are alread assorted, for instance, the nickels may be t rown into the hopper on one side of the partition, and

the dimes may be thrown into the hopper on the other side pf' the partition, and, 111

removable, anddis taken out when mixed money of several denominations is used.

Reverting to the knurled surface of the impelling device, it will be understood that while this provides means for engaging and impelling the coin, the impelling device will still revolve without damage t5 the parts in the event of a coin becoming temporarily lodged or blocked at the bottom of the tube, or being slow to assume proper position for its onward passage. In other words, I avoid the use of positive impelling means on the upper surface of the disk such as lugs or projections, and instead I provide a roughened or knurled friction surface which, while gripping the coin suliiciently for impelling purposes, will yet accommodate itself to a slow'settling coin. Again, it will be noted that the lugs or projections 62 are rounded on their upper edges longitudinally, and their outer ends present steep inclines. Further, the lateral forward upper edges of .these projections are beveled off or Founded,

and, by this construction, the coins will slip off from these lugs without danger of blocking, even though the coin is resting thereon at its rear part when its forward art strikes the bridge portion, as the coin, in all cases, will slip olf from the rounded, inclined and beveled portions of the lug.

The object "of the bridge portion of the cover or casing is to confine the coin and prevent it from tipping up when it strikes the counting pin. I claim 1. In combination an inclined distributing disk, means for rotating the same, a fixed rim extending about the rotary disk, a partition extending part way over and fixed in relation to the rotary disk and substantially radially inward from the rim and forming with said rim a hopper space to receive the coin, said partition dividing the face of the disk-into said hopper portion and adischarge section, and arms on the distributing disk to take the coins from the lower end .of the hopper space and elevate and discharge the same over the upper end i of the partition, substantially as described.

2. In combination a rotating distributing disk having arms, a partition fixed relatively to the rotary disk and extending partway over the same and dividing the face of "the disk into receiving and discharge sections and stirring or agitating lugs on the disk, said partition having an opening for the passage of the said lugs, substantially as described.

3. In combination a distributing disk, having arms, with spaces between, a fixed partition over the disk and a detent device for preventing the coins from passing through beneath the partition, substantially as described.

4. In combination a distributin disk, having arms, with spaces between, a xed partition over the disk and a pivoted detent device for preventing the coins from passing through beneath the partition, substantially as described.

5. In combination a distributing disk having arms, a. cross bar extending over the disk, a partition plate extending down from the bar and part way over the distributing plate, leaving a free space at the end for the passage of the coins, said partition plate dividing the face of the disk into a pocket portion and a discharge portion, substantially as described.

G. In combination an inclined distributer plate, means for rotating the same, a surrounding rim, a partition fixed relatively to the disk and extending part way across the same forming, with the rim, a downwardly tapered pocket for receiving the coin, and a hopper for directing the coin to said pocket, said distributing plate having means to lift the coin fromsaid pocket, substantially as described.

7. In combination with an inclined distributing plate, means for rotating the same, a partition fixed relatively to the plate and extending across the same to form a downwardly tapered pocket, a hopper having inclined sides and an inclined bottom leading to the said pocket, and a deflecting plate in. the hopper to direct the coins onto the inclined bottom, said distributing plate having means to lift'the coin from said pocket, substantially as described.

8. In combination a pair of inclined distributer plates convergent downwardly, and a pair of chutes one for each plate between the distributer plates inclining laterally and longitudinally, substantially as described.

9. In combination a pair of inclined distributer plates convergent downwardly, a pair of chutes between the distributer plates inclining laterally and longitudinally, and a hopper having a removable partition therein forming a receiver for each distributing plate, substantially as described.

10. In combination a rotary impelling device for the coins, and a cover plate therefor inclosing the iinpelling device with a passage between them for the coins, said cover plate having, on its under side, a laterally extending discharge recess one edge of which depends acrossthe path of the coin and serves to deflect the coin into the said discharge recess, and a counting device, substantially as described.

vice, and a counting device, substantially as described.

12. A coin counter comprisin a casing or cover. plate, a rotary impelling evice therein with coin receiving surfaces at different elevations and with the lower one of annular form of a width to receive a coin lying flat thereon, and surrounding the upper one and rotating in unison therewith, means for delivering the coins onto the upper surface to pass thence outwardly onto thelower, guide means for directing the coins outwardly from the upper to the lower surface, and counting means actuated by the coin as im- I pelled through the casing, substantially as described.

13. A coin counter comprising a casing or cover plate, a rotary impelling device therein with coin receiving surfaces at different elevations and with the lower one of annular form of a width to receive a coin lying flat thereon, and surrounding the upper one and rotating in unison therewith, means for delivering the coins onto the upper surface to pass thence outwardly onto the lower, guide means for directing the coins outwardly from the upper to the lower surface, and counting means actuated by the coin as impelled through the casing, said guide means consisting of a guiding edge on the casing or cover, substantially as described.

14:. In combination a casing, a rotary impelling device within the same and covered thereby, and means for delivering coins to the impelling device, said casing havin an open top guideway to direct the coins rom the face of the impelling device to its periphery and to allow the coins to settle and having a bridge portion confining the said impelling device, substantially as described.

15. In combination a casing, a rotary impelling device, a delivery tube extending to an openin through the top of the casing to one side 0 the was of rotation of the rotary impelling device, said opening leading from the tube outwardly and thence in the direction of rotation of the impelling disk, said cover presenting a bridge under which the coins are carried, and a counting device adjacent said bridge, substantially as described.

16. In combination in a coin counting device, a casing or cover having: a chamber, a rotary impelling device therein, a recess in the under side of the cover leading off from said chamber with a coin deflecting edge or wall forming one side of said recess to direct the coins into the same, substantially as described.

tangential nurling's on its surface, substantial y as describe 18. In combination in'a coin counter, a

casing, a rotary impelling device therein having upper and lower coin receiving surfaces, and rojections extending from the rotary mem er at a point between said surfaces to engage the coins, said lower surface surroundin the upper surface, substantially as describe 19. A coin counter comprising a casing, a rotary impelling member in the casing having concentric upper and lower coin receiving surfaces, the lower surface surrounding the upper, and projections on the lower surface to engage the coins, means for feeding the coins onto the upper surface to one side of the center thereof, and means for guiding the coins across said upper surface to fall upon the lower surface, substantially as described.

20. A coin counter comprising'a casing, a rotary impelling device therein having concentric upper and lower coin receiving surfaces and with the lower surface surrounding the upper, a tube to direct the coins to the upper surface, said upper surface being arranged closely beneath the cover plate, said cover plate having a guiding channel for the coins, and having a bridge portion extending over the upper and the lower surfaces and counting means to be en aged by the coins impelled, substantially as escribed.

21. A coin counter comprising a casing, a rotary member therein, a gear wheel attached to thelower part of the rotary member and forming a coin receiving surface,

and impelling lugs on the upper face of said gear wheel which forms said coin receiving surface, substantially as described.

22. In combination a plurality of coin counters each comprising a rotary impelling device including a gear wheel which forms a coin receiving surface, and means for engaging the coins carried by said gear wheels, said gear wheels intermeshing, substantially as described.

23. In combination in a coin counter, a casing, a rotary impelling device therein, said casing having a guiding channel into which the coins are delivered, said channel extending outwardly and thence circumferentially, a laterally extending deflector or uide against which the coins are forced and irected outwardly, a bridge portion under which the coins are passed, and a counting device adjacent the said bridge portion, substantially as described.

24. In a coin counter, a rotary disk having a knurled upper surface, means for di-- ally engage the coins, and a lower receiving surface concentric with and surrounding the upper receiving surface to rotate therewith,

centric lower receiving surface and means for delivering the coins to the upper surface and thence to the lower concentric surface.

27. In combination in a coin counter, a slotted casing, a rotary coin impelling member therein, and a delivery tube having a projection on its foot extending down into the slot to form an opening for the passage of a single coin, substantially as described.

28. A coin counter comprising a rotary coin impelling member having means at its outer portion for engaging and impelling the coin, a delivery tube extending to the rotary impelling member. atfa point inside the line of travel of the impelling means, a fixed guide having a channel for the passage of the coins to direct the coins outwardl from the tube to within range of the travehng impelling means, and counting means, substantially as described. r

29. A coin counter com rising a casing, a rotary impelling member aving a high and a surrounding low part 'with impelling means on its low part, aftube to direct coins onto the surface of thexhigh partand a channeled guide extend-iHgoutwardly from the high part to the low part tic direct the coins from the high part-outwardly to fall within the range of the impelling means, and a counter, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, I afiixmy signature in presence of two witnesses.

PERLEY E. REES. W'itnesses:

I HENRY E. CoorER,

T-. E. M. FETHERSTONHAUGH. 

